Hello, Aztex

News of the century! Well, OK, it's a young century so far, but truly, not since the Round Rock Express started operations back in '99 has Austin made such a splash on the national sports scene. The United Soccer Leagues announced Wednesday that the Austin Aztex have been awarded the newest USL First Division franchise. That puts Austin in the same league as the Seattle Sounders, Rochester Rhinos, Vancouver Whitecaps, and others in the top U.S. pro league below MLS, starting in 2009.

Unlike any soccer team Austin's had before, this one is fully professional. And they'll start out with proven top-level management, and connections to the top levels of international football: president Phil Rawlins, an Austin resident, is also an owner and director of Stoke City FC – the world's second-oldest pro football club, currently having a very successful season in the English Championship – with whom the Aztex immediately announced an affiliation. Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes called that "an easy decision for Stoke City. We feel certain that the Aztex will be a major success both in Austin and nationally and look forward to a long and mutually profitable relationship."

As part of the deal, the Aztex absorb the Austin Premier Development League franchise as their U-23 youth team. The PDL Aztex will play in the PDL Mid-South, where the Austin Lightning played last year. That season starts May 3; reportedly the USL put off setting the final PDL schedule until this deal could be announced.

Truly, this is a big deal, folks. But don't take my word for it. It's front page news nationally, and at English affiliate Stoke City.

Speaking of Stoke …

Now I suppose I'll have to become a Potters fan. Shouldn't be hard, really – they're a likable and attack-minded young team, with a great club history, dating back to an 1863 railroad workers' team. And they've got a pretty good shot at being promoted into the English Premier League for next season, just in time for the Aztex debut. Three teams are promoted each year from the First Division; Stoke are currently in fourth place, but just a point back of the two teams in front of them. I'd give them about a 50-50 chance; they're almost certain to at least make the postseason playoff. (The top two teams in the standings get promoted; places three, four, five, and six have a playoff for the third spot.)